New member, former C5 Z06 owner, considering a ZR-1

[edram454]

excellent information. you are correct on all counts. Nothing wrong with a zr1 4 cam. engine is best thing about it period. a real work horse and as stable as they come. Unfortunately, technology will eventually win in the end. It took me a while to accept the fact that the ls platform was here to stay. they make power, cheaply!! lots of it. I can buy a 376 ls3 crate motor pushing 525 horsepower for 6500!!! new. I can buy a supercharger for 5400 and push over 600 rwhp!!! then again, when will i ever use that? My only comment was to the gentleman considering a zr1 is to buy modded if he wants to be relevent and not get killed at every stop light buy mustangs....camaros.... late model vettes... challengers.....330-340 horse wont get it done any more. In the day, KOTH..today court jester unless modded.

[5ABI VT]

Originally Posted by edram454

excellent information. you are correct on all counts. Nothing wrong with a zr1 4 cam. engine is best thing about it period. a real work horse and as stable as they come. Unfortunately, technology will eventually win in the end. It took me a while to accept the fact that the ls platform was here to stay. they make power, cheaply!! lots of it. I can buy a 376 ls3 crate motor pushing 525 horsepower for 6500!!! new. I can buy a supercharger for 5400 and push over 600 rwhp!!! then again, when will i ever use that? My only comment was to the gentleman considering a zr1 is to buy modded if he wants to be relevent and not get killed at every stop light buy mustangs....camaros.... late model vettes... challengers.....330-340 horse wont get it done any more. In the day, KOTH..today court jester unless modded.

Just making a counterpoint and sharing my thoughts and not trying to argue with you specifically. While the engine is the best part of the ZR-1 for some people like me the exterior styling and width of the body is also the best part. I had always dreamt of modifying and putting on wide wheels which the z swallows with ease and a lowered c4 exterior to me is far prettier than the c5 Zo6.
You are also correct technology will win in the end. That is why GM is rumored to be making another DOHC LT5. If you ask me it's been a dark age of farm tractor technology since 1995. The appeal was always dohc for me.. and when I was buying my z technology did win in the end
The LS platform does make power cheaply but being relevant in terms of performance hardly deters anyone from wanting 60s/70s and soon 80s musclecars (and 90s a time after). With resto mods becoming the norm it's proof people will want beautiful and significant cars and many will just modify them to the performance they would like. Sure the Lt5 is expensive to build but how cool is that that in the future nearly NOONE will swap an LT5 out of a ZR-1 ? They can make over 700 hp NA, and look like nothing else out there. Why would anyone want to ? They won't. I have minor work on mine and it runs relevant enough. I put 3 car lengths on a brand new gt350 mustang belonging to a co worker. Not bad for a 90s supercar vs a $90k cdn 526 hp high rpm voodoo V8 with the gimmicky 'flat plane crank' that has so caught the interest of its fan base. The gt350 is quite relevant today and is an example where it's special features are valued over peak power, dyno numbers and 1/4 mile times. Also notice .. that no one who loves that car or wants one cares about how a modified c5 can beat it in performance.